Can a brief peer-led group training intervention improve health literacy in persons living with HIV? Results from a randomized controlled trial.
Mechelle Sanders, Jonathan N Tobin, Andrea Cassells and 5 others
PMID 33221117WHAT IT FOUND
Peer-led training improved HIV-specific and electronic health literacy, especially in those with low baseline literacy.
General literacy and numeracy did not change. Benefits persisted at six months for electronic literacy but faded for HIV knowledge after adjustment.
Key findings
01The intervention significantly improved HIV-specific health literacy and self-assessed electronic health literacy compared to usual care at both immediate follow-up and six months.
02Participants with inadequate eHealth literacy at baseline showed the largest improvement, with a mean difference of 5.08 at immediate follow-up and 4.67 at six months.
03There were no significant differences between groups in general health literacy or numeracy measures.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
This was a secondary analysis; the primary outcome of the parent trial was patient activation, not health literacy. The eHEALS measure is subjective and self-reported, which may introduce reporting bias. The study did not assess whether improvements in health literacy translated to better clinical health outcomes. Participants were required to be English-speaking, limiting generalizability to non-English speakers.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by non-U.S. government funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that general health literacy or numeracy improved. The training was specific to HIV content and electronic device use, and no changes were seen in general reading or math skills related to health.